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The complete Whole Foods - Traders Joe's omni-thread

jthrasher

By jthrasher
in Grand Rapids

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

Posted
Posted

Knapp's Crossing. The last article mentioned the "auction" will take place place December 30. With Lormax being the only bidder, its only a formality, but I imagine if some of the rumors are true, then they'd maybe announce something after that date about possible tenants.

 

Ah, gotcha.

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GR_Urbanist Burg

GR_Urbanist

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If they are coming, I hope they consider the corner of Wealthy and Division.

 

Aren't stores like this are considered destinations where they can stick them almost anywhere and get customers? So why not take a relatively low-risk and have it where they are guaranteed consistent business. It even has easy highway access.

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egrguy Burg

egrguy

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If they are coming, I hope they consider the corner of Wealthy and Division.

 

Aren't stores like this are considered destinations where they can stick them almost anywhere and get customers? So why not take a relatively low-risk and have it where they are guaranteed consistent business. It even has easy highway access.

 

I love the idea. I personally also wanted the Tower Pinkston building with the parking lot next door to have been a Trader Joes (great for those DT, easy parking for those that aren't)

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Telecaster Rex Unincorporated Area

Telecaster Rex

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The Lormax development (Knapp's Crossing) would likely not be an doable option for Trader Joe's - when SpartanNash purchased the D&W site from Benner, they had the entire development deed restricted so that they will be the only grocery user.

 

Not that it couldn't happen, it would just be VERY expensive to eliminate that deed restriction.  TJ (or Whole Foods, etc.) might be better off trying to buy the D&W...

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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The Lormax development (Knapp's Crossing) would likely not be an doable option for Trader Joe's - when SpartanNash purchased the D&W site from Benner, they had the entire development deed restricted so that they will be the only grocery user.

 

Not that it couldn't happen, it would just be VERY expensive to eliminate that deed restriction.  TJ (or Whole Foods, etc.) might be better off trying to buy the D&W...

 

Well since we're all spitballin and talking out of our asses, I heard WF tried that. Either to lease the D&W building or to buy it out, but it didn't go through. Or hadn't gone through yet. The person who told me could've been hearing info 3rd hand too. :)

 

I saw someone post on Facebook that they work for the post office, and the downtown one was going to be sold on February 15th to become Michigan's tallest space museum.

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Telecaster Rex Unincorporated Area

Telecaster Rex

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Well since we're all spitballin and talking out of our asses, I heard WF tried that. Either to lease the D&W building or to buy it out, but it didn't go through. The person who told me could've been hearing info 3rd hand too. :)

 

Better than 3rd hand here... something along those lines did happen, but didn't go very far.

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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Can't say now.  It was doing OK for a while.  I stress just "OK" though.

 

There's rarely anyone there from my experience. Their pharmacy is way better than Meijer (because there's never a wait), but then Meijer went and built a new pharmacy. D&W was the first to have "make your own 6 packs of beer," on the NE side, but it was on an endcap unrefrigerated. Then Meijer beat them with having two full coolers of beer to make your own 6 pack. Chilled. People who like to put together their own beer selection probably want to drink it as soon as they get home... :)

 

Every time I walk past those deli coolers at night, I wonder how much food they throw away every day.

 

 

It's way too big for a TJ's, but a Whole Foods would be turnkey almost. Or at least the shell is ready to go.

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john_denver Hamlet

john_denver

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Ok, maybe this is borderline hearsay but my neighbor was in the Ann Arbor Trader Joe's and an employee did state Grand Rapids is getting one near 28th & I-96.

That person too mentioned there was an internal memo asking if any current employees wanted to move to Grand Rapids to work in the new store.

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trailblazerkeebler Crossroads

trailblazerkeebler

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I can confirm this. I have a friend who was at a TJ's in Indy and the person ringing her up asked her where she was from. Upon hearing GR they said oh cool your getting a Trader Joe's, I saw it in our newsletter. Having worked at the Madison store I can tell you they do store announcements in the newsletter.

Another friend tells me the location will be at the old Barnes and Noble on 28th (unconfirmed) Hooray for GR!!!

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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I can confirm this. I have a friend who was at a TJ's in Indy and the person ringing her up asked her where she was from. Upon hearing GR they said oh cool your getting a Trader Joe's, I saw it in our newsletter. Having worked at the Madison store I can tell you they do store announcements in the newsletter.

Another friend tells me the location will be at the old Barnes and Noble on 28th (unconfirmed) Hooray for GR!!!

 

I believe the old Barnes & Noble is going to be the new Dave & Busters. One ampersand to another. 

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egrguy Burg

egrguy

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I've heard these "we're coming to GR" story lines before. I like it, and I think GR is a good market, but I'll believe it when I see it. However, the old BN was 45,000 sq ft and the D&B is going to be 30,000 sq ft plus the Ruby Tuesday closed, so there is room there and it's kind of in an area without another grocery store super close.

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MJLO City

MJLO

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If I were them i'd keep it under lock and key until I was ready too.  The insufferable speculation machine that fuels W.MI media can be problematic for new brands and developers while they are trying to lay ground work. 

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RegalTDP Burg

RegalTDP

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Ok, maybe this is borderline hearsay but my neighbor was in the Ann Arbor Trader Joe's and an employee did state Grand Rapids is getting one near 28th & I-96.

That person too mentioned there was an internal memo asking if any current employees wanted to move to Grand Rapids to work in the new store.

 

 

Anyone else think it's weird that anyone would move to a new town just to work at a different Trader Joe's?  Just wondering.

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Veloise City

Veloise

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Anyone else think it's weird that anyone would move to a new town just to work at a different Trader Joe's?  Just wondering.

 

It's not weird at all. If a start-up has to recruit and train from scratch, there's more work involved for them. If they float the idea, perhaps some existing employees will go for it. Likely there's a bonus involved, maybe a promotion (move to GR, manage the new store).

 

Some years back, the Greektown casino (in Detroit) recruited casino workers from New Jersey. One of them, a casual avatar acquaintance on a message board, became a good friend. She's moved on, now works at a casino in Kentucky.

 

And when my "A" cell tower company was acquired by the "V" company, I was "offered" the chance to move back to Detroit.

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RegalTDP Burg

RegalTDP

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It's not weird at all. If a start-up has to recruit and train from scratch, there's more work involved for them. If they float the idea, perhaps some existing employees will go for it. Likely there's a bonus involved, maybe a promotion (move to GR, manage the new store).

 

Some years back, the Greektown casino (in Detroit) recruited casino workers from New Jersey. One of them, a casual avatar acquaintance on a message board, became a good friend. She's moved on, now works at a casino in Kentucky.

 

And when my "A" cell tower company was acquired by the "V" company, I was "offered" the chance to move back to Detroit.

 

Makes sense at the manager level or with skilled work.  I had in my head an image of cashiers and stockers moving to GR for this, and that didn't make sense to me.

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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I can confirm this. I have a friend who was at a TJ's in Indy and the person ringing her up asked her where she was from. Upon hearing GR they said oh cool your getting a Trader Joe's, I saw it in our newsletter. Having worked at the Madison store I can tell you they do store announcements in the newsletter.

Another friend tells me the location will be at the old Barnes and Noble on 28th (unconfirmed) Hooray for GR!!!

 

 

Ha! I almost cracked up when I got this alert. Apparently the employee notification in indy was correct:

 

www.grbj.com/articles/81704-trader-joes-signs-lease-in-west-michigan-market

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EastownLeo Hamlet

EastownLeo

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Ha! I almost cracked up when I got this alert. Apparently the employee notification in indy was correct:

 

www.grbj.com/articles/81704-trader-joes-signs-lease-in-west-michigan-market

 

I think you owe me an apology.  I told you, even before the Indy post. Ha.  Glad it was true.

 

"Posted 13 December 2014 - 01:56 PM

 

Friend just posted that she was at a Trader Joes  In Bloomfield.

In talking to an employee there they said:

 

"Employee confirmed, Joe's is coming to Grand Rapids next year!! She saw an in-store bulletin about transferring to GR."

 

Looks like next year."

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